The fourth in the series of Advent books by Arnold Ytreeide following: Jotham’s Journey, Tabitha’s Travel’s, and Bartholomew’s Passage. Each night throughout Advent, the stories build momentum culminating at the manger in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve. Join the adventure in Ishtar’s Odyssey.

Ishtar is a ten-year-old son of a wise man. His father and uncles convince him to join them and follow a mysterious star across the desert. He is not keen on the adventure at first, but after encounters with Jotham, Tabitha, and Bartholomew, Ishtar changes his mind. Perhaps finding the newborn King is bigger than his world in Persia. Read along and find out if he is right.

When our children were young, we read and re-read these wonderful books. With all the distractions from the true reason for Christmas, these stories help to prepare the entire family for Christmas morning. I recommend them for children of all ages, but they are truly best for children in the elementary grades.

Although the later books include references to the characters in earlier stories, these books need not be read in any particular order.

Ytreeide, Arnold. Ishtar’s Odyssey: A Family Story for Advent. Kregel Publications, 2015.